Section or block for sewer or conduit construction.



APPLICATION FIILED-OCT. IO. 1914.

Patented Sept 5 ,1916. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Tial e. w.- MATHEWS. y SECTION 0B BLOCK FOR SEWER 0R CONDUIT CONSTRUCTION v Patented Sept. 5,1916.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

GEORGE W, MATHEWS, OF MACON, GEORGIA, ASSIGNORTO RICHARD FINDLALY, 0F i MACON,

GEORGIA.

SECTION 0R BLoc'K ron SEWER on coNDUIT coNs'TnUcmIoN.

etc., embodying vitriiied segmental or other sections, andthe primary object is to p rovide a section or block which when properly assembled. withother similar sections will form a practically continuous curved wall and adapted for use in organizing sewers orl other tubular conduits, and while it is preferredthat theseveral segmental sections embodied in the organization of the sewer pipe or conduit be regularly curved so as to conjointly form a circular-structure, it ,willbe understood that the sections 4may be curved in different arcsor may be otherwise shaped to produce a sewer ci' conduit that is elliptical, for instance,'in cross-section -or that may have an angular cross-sectional contour..

A further object of the invention is to so construct the various segmental sections that of..contiguous sections provide key seats having maximum lateral extensions or enlargements' within the bodies of the sections and` contracted openings,accessible-from the 'eX- terior and interior of the pipe or conduit structure foriilling the said seats with cement or other material and thereby produce aftight non-leaking joint around each section which is not dependable solely on the adhesiony of thev cement filling relatively to the walls of thejseat'sto'obstruct-lateral separation of the several-sections, but embodying positive means -byxreason of the seat ribs which lock the cement yfilling as well as thesections and 'wheieby a tight non-leaking specification of Letters raient. n l PatentedSept. 5, 1916.

Application filed ctober 10, 1914. Seria1`No.866,103. y

joint around each section is produced'and a durable sewer pipe or conduit organization possessing'that amount of rigidity which is necessarytosuccessfully resist strains and displacement of the sections, particularly at points which are inaccessible after completion of :the sewer or conduit results.

A further object vof the-inventionis to provide segmental orother blocks or sections` that may be readily lassociated and having interengaging end and side joint elements at.

intermediate points as well as key grooves continuously around the sides and ends adjacent tothe outer and inner surfaces of the blocks `or sections or between the said end and side'joint elements and the planes of the outer and inner surfaces of the blocks or sections, the latter being of such form and proportions that they may be laid in break joint relation so yas to intercept or. obviate the production of long jointsbetween thev blocks or sections, with material advantage in y the formation of the sewer pipe .or conduit and also inthe prevention of leakage at any point throughout the sewer pipe or 'conduit structure.

. A still further'object of the invention is to provide a vitrified segmental block or section for the construction of conduits, sewers, etc., which may be readily assembled to produce Ia' construction which will not become weakened or the sealing joints become broken at the time ofthe settlement of the blocks or sections in their final bearing, this result being obtained bythe mannerj in which the blocks are formed and the method of introduction of the sealing or locking joints .therein and which can be-conipleted at any time after the entire conduit: is otherwise completed and liasre'ceived the load of back filling of the trench which forces the blocks or sections 'finto' the bearing and' position .which they "will permanently occupy and causing the blocks through the `particular form of sealing joints, after the cement iilling in the latterbecomes set, to resist any tendency to separation in view of a positive anchorage of the cement filling in thekey.

grooves and independent of adhesion of the subjoined description, the-invention 'consists y in the construction,arrangement and combination of parts which will be herelnafter described and claimed and subject to suchchanges inthe precise embodiment of the in- V',vention herein disclosed as may be permitted within the scope of the claims and without .departing from the Vspirit of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an isomet- "rical perspective of a portion of a sewer pipe or'conduit made up of the segmental hollow Sectronsor blocks embodying the'features of the;` invention.. VFig. 2 is a section takenin the plane' of the line 2-2. Fig. l. Fig. 3

iszasection taken 4in the plane of the line :3-f3, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional per# spective view o'f a series of the hollow seg mental sections o r blocks"particularly showfing the mannerl of assembling the same.

- Fig. 5is a plan view of a portion of a sewer pipe or conduit made up ofthe improved hollow segmental sections or blockslooking from the interior of the pipe or conduit and showing one side broken away 'and in horizontal section. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one ofthe improved hollow segmental sections-or blocks. i 4

Thisapplicatio'n constitutes a continuay tion in -part ofmyapplication Serial No.

so, v

`855,299, tiledAugust 5, 1914, and in the presen-t instance the same essential features of the A invention are embodied as in the above noted application with developments which .particularly pertain toy therkey seats or :grooves disposed at the 'opposite sides and i the ends of the severalsegmental sections r blocks and mainly differentiate the impro ement from the-prior` structure by provi 1ng,a positive structural resistance forming apart of each key seat'or groove thatV operates to obstruct lateral or sidewise tate the formation of break joints between the contlguous sections or blocks.

By preference the sections or blocks 5 will be of Vsegmental forni or curved in the arcs of circles, but it will be understood that they l may be of other or angular form, or of arcuate contour other than the arcs of circles, the form of the sections or blocks depending upon the character or the genera-l shape or contour of the sewerpipe or conduit to be constructed. Each section or block 5 is provided with openings or ducts 6 extending longitudinally therethrough from end to end, these openings or ducts registering in the complete `pipe or conduit organization as will be readily understood.

The number of passages orfducts 6 formed in the sections or blocks may be varied at building up a pipe or conduit.

will as will be readily understood in the art.

The preferred form of the-hollow segmental remaining figures, which illustrate both the end and slde joints. Each segmental section or block has `on one side a dovetail pro- `)ect-ion 7 extending longitudinally full length thereof and at an intermediate or central point, and theopposite'side of the block has la dovetail groove 8 toreceive the dovetail projection 7 of a contiguous section or block. By' means of the dovetail projections and grooves 7 and 8 the sections or blocks may be reliably interlocked when as sembled, and, moreover, the said projections and grooves form intermediate locking meansi'for the sections or blocks.

The principal or essential feature of the invention consists in the construction of grooves 9 and 10 in the inner and outer portions of the sides and ends of each section or blockat regular distances inwardly relatively to the plane of the inner andouter surfaces 11 and 12 ofthe sections or blocks. The grooves 9 and 10 are continuous, or extend fully around the sides andends of each section or block, the said grooves forining approximately one-half of a complete key groove which is produced when the several sections or blocks are assembled conterminally and side by side in organizing or The key grooves 9 and 10 have their maximum lateral extent inwardly in transverse relation to the portions of the sections or blocks in which they are formed, and when the sec tions or blocks are assembled and the key grooves completed as shown byFigs. 1, 2, 3 and l, contracted inlet openings 13 are formed with relation to the completed groovesand respectively open inwardlyinto the pipeor conduit and outwardly with relation to the outer surface of said pipe or conduit. These contracted inlet openings or feed throats for the completed key grooves extend both longitudinally and transversely with relation to the pipe or conduit when. the sections or blocks are properly assembled, and by this means sealed jpints can be produced between the sides and ends of the assembled sections or blocks after the latter are all in proper position relatively to each other and fullysettled in place.

From the foregoing it will be seen that each section or block is provided with an intermediate or side` locking means and also' with auxiliary key locking means which are formed both 1n the sides and ends at points between the planes of the side locking means l make itpossible to produce airtight; and non-,130

igiemao ealrable joint,- but-at the same tiiiieithe said auxiliary locking tmeans .servew` to hold the ,sections or blocks against displacement` when assembledindependently of the intermediate side locking means. lnother words, the improved hollow segmental sections .or blocks are not dependent -solely for, their interlocked lassociationwhen assembled upon the` dovetailprojections 7 and dovetail grooves,

8, as thekey seats or grooves 9 and. 10 con# 'tribute 'very materially tothei'locki'ng fea.-

the remaining structural features ofeach section or block and without requiring'eXtra labor to produce 4the-same. In'other words, when the improved hollow segmental section or block istconstriictedfall' the parts thereof as explainedV are simultaneously pro.-

` duced, anditshould-be understood 'that' the ,tight, non-leakable jointh strength and durability fandfwhicli is readily f. accessible for completion. by avery simple operation.

key seats or grooves 9 vand 10 do no t operate to, hold any'surface coiering5'cement or other lilling,bu t -to efi'ect a joint'lock and filling on oppositesides yof' an intermediate lock, thus doubly" insuring an rabsolutely aving superior As fa; material development in this Aa rt` and particularly in view of the ,y disclosure iniiiy above noted prior application, each key seator groove 9 and 10 is ,formed with a lockingrib or longitudina'lprojection 14 which produces a resisting means for lthe cement filling introduced into the combined seats' or, grooves 9' and-10 when the sections or blocks are assembled', and through ,the medium Vof thesev ribs orv projections',

which are contiguously disposed'when the sections or blocks are interloc-ked or joined, the cement filling isvanchoredin the said seats or grooves and the ribs or projections l-l act lto absolutely prevent any lateral or sidewise movement of the-sections or blocks relatively to each other in-view ofL the fact that the said ribs or projections have an eX- tenty 1in. an outward vdirectional for '.instance,

v-relativelyto the innerand outer surfaces of thevsections or blocks that wil'l'fdispose portions'iof the seats or grooves 9 ,andlO in wardly beyond the apices of the .said ribs or projections. Consequentlyz.' it will be understood that the ribs or projections lll op'- erate to lock the sections or blocks in a positive manner relatively to the cement filling independent of or without relying Aupon ad*- hesion of the said filling alone to produce the lock. The formation of the intermediate and auxiliary 'locking means as y just eX- plained 4is. also very-edective in strengthening the` entire pipe or' conduit composed lof the improved sections or blocks. and in :s-

-sembling the several sections .or-blocks'it will be understood that thek intermediate 'joints .will be sealed byv applying cement thereto'as in ordinary pipe, or conduit structures made up of sections or blocks and the seats or grooves 9 and 104 will also be conj oint-ly'filled and the joints at the inner and outer portions between the sides and ends of the blocks will be completed by pressing and'smoothing the cementitious material relatively thereto both from the interior and exterior of the pipe or conduit. .This is a v.very important feature in 'view of the fact that the sections or blocks may b el effectively v and positively sealed at Athe joints after all j settling movement has taken place, and leale. nage and displacement of the sections or blocks are thus entirely prevented. ln other words.l an absolutely tight joint isfformed around'and `between the several sections or blocks, and the whole organization of the pipe or conduit is rendered rigid and exceptionally strong when the cement filling hardens in the key seats or grooves, as it is obvious tliatkthe blocks cannot shift laterally eitherin outward or inward directions, nor can they be depressedl below the plane of their normal or desirable coiitoiii'wlien assembled or-forced inwardly into the interior opening of the pipe or conduit.

Owing tothe particular structure of joint 4as just explained and wherein ythe cement' .filling is firmiy locked in the seats or groovesv v9-and 1-0.y it will be iii'ipossible for the said filling to jbe vome displaced, either from internal pressure or from exterior pressure. Furthermore7 it will be seen that a pipe or conduit may be expeditiously and reliably pr duced or built up by the use of the iniproved sections 0r blocks andl after the joints are completed of the sections or blocks lthe fp ipe lor conduit will be essentially an-integral mass wherein the pressureis uniformly distributed and al1 strain resisted.

It is obvious that changes inthe proportions andfdiinensions and general details of structure may be made and'willbe adopted .in accordance' with the sizes of the :pipes or conduits and asl .the strength and resistance required may demand.y

It will beunderstood that as (the blocks are assembled to form the tubular, strueture" the crown ofthe structure will tend outward as Ais kusual withv devices of rIbis-settling movement will ferentially,v to adjiistthemeslves atan angle. as previously .l described' and the doyetail joint acts as a pivotal connection which will permit a.; limited angular movement due to the possible movement of the' pro j'ection in .the space provided between 1 the between the sides and ends head of the projecting element of the joint and the adjacent side of thev containing recess. This angular adjustment even over a relatively large angle is provided by the spaced apart contiguous sides of -adjacent blocks and by the positioning of the key grooves at the ends of the joints. As these key grooves are always open to the outside of the blocks it is possible to lill the same and seal the joints after the blocks have settled in place. Due to the Jfact that the throat of each dove-tail recess is of less width than the head of the 4dove-tail projection, the entire separation of the blocks in a direction at right angles to the plane ot the joint is prevented.

That is claimed is:

l. A culvert construction comprising blocks laid side by side into a curved wall Ahaving an axis of curvature disposed in substantially horizontal position, certain of said blocks arranged to torni at least two joints, each disposed in planes substantially parallel to said axis ot' curvature, the contiguous sides of the blocks forming said joints provided with interlocking means for pivotally connecting said blocks so that they may assume an angular adjustment while settling in position, said means including an extension from one of the blocks, said extension including a broad head and a reduced portion between the broad head and the adjacent side of the block, and the interlocking means including a recess in the other block, said recess having a broad portion designed to contain the broad head of the projection but of greater width than said head to torm a space between the head and an adjacent wall ot' the recess thereby to permit a slight movement ot' the blocks relative to each other, said recess having a reduced throat of a width less than the greatest width of said 'head and containing the reduced portion of the extension, said interlocking means designed to prevent the separation ot the blocks in a direction at right angles to the line ot' the joint between the blocks.

A tubular construction formed circumferentially ot blocks laid side by side in order to forni a continuous wall, contiguous sides ot' certain adjacent bloelrs being provided with interlocking means for pivotally connecting said blocks to form a joint therebetween, said means including an extension from one of the blocks provided :with 'a broad, head and reduced in crosssection toward the adjacent side of the block and the other block provided with a recess Copies of this patent may be obtained for sides of the blocks at one end of said joint,

being grooved and co-acting to provide an l'enlarged-recess for permitting the grooved ends of the blocks to approach each other and said recess being open to the outside :for receiving a cementitious filler at the end of the joint even after the blocks have set in position.

3. In a device of the class described including a pair of blocks with adjacent sides disposed in juxta-position to .form a rjoint, and provided with an interlocking means for pivotally connecting the blocks, said joint disposed'to prevent the entirev separation of the blocks in a direction at'right angles to the plane of the joint while permitting relative movement of the blocks during settling into position, adjacent edges of said blocks at one side ot' the joint being recessed and said recesses co-acting to form an enlarged key groove at one end ot' the joint, and a plastic filler disposed between said blocks and disposed in said enlarged key groove to seal the joint.

el. In a device of the class described, a pair of blocks with contiguous sides provide'd with a pivotal connectiomincluding a dove-tail projection extending from one ot the members and loosely fitting in a dovetail recess in the other block, the throat of said recess having a relatively close tit with the reduced portion of the projection'iand other portions of the projection having a relatively loose tit in the recess, said contiguous sides, except said. pivotal connection,- being normally spaced from each other and a eementitious filler disposed between said spaced apart sides thereby to seal the joint between the blocks, said spaced apart sides being open to the outer side of the assembled blocks thereby permitting the inset tion of the filler from the outside of the.

blocks when interlocked and after they have settled in position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnees.

GEORGE W. MATIIEWS. Witnee's:

CHAs. S. Hirse,4 JAMES L. Norms.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o! Patents, Washington, D. C. 

